THE sun shone, the stands were packed to the rafters and, crucially, Worcester Warriors won their biggest game of the season.

Thousands of fans spurred their team on to a nail-biting victory over Northampton at Sixways, ensuring their place among rugby's elite next season, and the chance of a prestigious Heineken Cup place.

Young and old, only just beginning to get used to Worcester staging such high-profile matches, watched as the lead changed hands time after time throughout the heart-stopping match.

In fact it took a try just five minutes from the end to guarantee survival and hand the Warriors an opportunity to play European rugby next season.

As the final whistle sounded, the celebrations could begin.

It was relief as much as anything. Warriors were the bookies' pre-season favourites to go down after just one season in the Premiership.

The celebrations were not just limited to Sixways, as supporters, proudly wearing the blue and yellow shirts, spilled on to the city centre streets.

Mark Quale, who works at O'Neill's Irish Bar, in St Nicholas Street, Worcester, said the city centre was packed with people celebrating the Warriors result.

"People were queuing around the corner just to get in and that was the same all over the place," he said. "It was so much busier than a normal Saturday night."

"It was busy during the day when

Continued: P2 Report, analysis and pictures: P28 P28

FROM 1 more people joined them after the match."

The warm weather helped swell the crowds and everybody was in high spirits after the match, which finished 21-19 to the Warriors.

Steve Smith, of The Exchange public house in Cornmarket, Worcester, said it did not take long before the bar was awash with supporters.

"As soon as the rugby finished a lot of the lads turned up here to celebrate after the match," he said.

"I'm sure it was a combination of that and the Bank Holiday weekend which helped bring in the crowds."

It was all in a marked contrast to the mood just 15 miles up the road, where Kidderminster Harriers were relegated out of the Football League.